LAP-BAND® Outcomes

LAP-BAND® Weight Loss

The better published studies on LAP-BAND® weight loss report an average of 40-50% excess weight loss (EWL) after LAP-BAND® surgery. Many other published studies report lower weight loss averages, particularly after the first few years after surgery.*

Dr. Oliak’s Orange County LAP-BAND® patients average 48% EWL at 1 year after surgery, and 46% EWL at 5 years after surgery (see chart below). These weight loss statistics are significantly better than what is reported in most published LAP-BAND® weight loss studies.*More about our outcomes

Note the large range (0-100% EWL) in weight loss outcomes at the different time points in the table below – some patients do really well with weight loss after surgery and some don’t. Patients who do well typically experience good hunger suppression with the band, and are successful at establishing new eating/exercise habits.

* The weight loss statistics quoted on this page are averages. Individual patient results vary. Some patients lose more weight than the average, and some lose less.

Our Orange County LAP-BAND® Weight Loss Statistics

48% EWL after 1 year (range 0-100%)

49% EWL after 2 years (range 0-100%)

48% EWL after 3 years (range 0-100%)

46% EWL after 5 years (range 0-100%)

43% EWL after 7 years (range 0-91%)

EWL – excess weight loss. LAP-BAND® weight loss results above are averages from >1000 patients operated on from 2002 through 2013. Individual patients can lose more or less weight than the average.

What is excess weight?

Excess weight is the amount of weight over ideal weight. Ideal weight can be found in Metropolitan Life Insurance height-weight tables. Ideal weight is considered to be the middle weight in the medium frame size range. For example, ideal weight (not goal weight) for a 5’4″ woman is considered to be 134 pounds, and ideal weight (not goal weight) for a 5’11” man is considered to be 164 pounds.

LAP-BAND® Outcomes – Complications

Gastric banding is considered to be a safe and low risk operation. Long-term, however, there are complications that can occur, including esophageal dysfunction, pouch dilation, band slippage, and band erosion. Symptoms of these complications include heartburn, reflux, the feeling of food getting stuck, and vomiting.

Dr. Oliak’s LAP-BAND® complication rates are shown in the table below. Although other published LAP-BAND® outcomes studies report similar low complication rates, there are many other studies that report much higher complication rates. Band erosions, for example, are reported to occur in up to 10% of patients, and removal rates are reported to be as high as 50%.

Weight Loss Surgery Patients Live Longer

Numerous published studies have shown that weight loss surgery patients live longer than similarly obese patients who don’t have surgery. This is because the surgery patients lose weight, become healthier, and get fewer heart attacks, fewer strokes, and less cancer.*

Call 714-582-2530 or submit the following information to request a free consult. If you have insurance coverage for weight loss surgery (or are self-pay), and you meet the BMI criteria for surgery, we will schedule you for a 30-40 minute educational consultation with Dr. Oliak.